Farm Subsidies and Welfare -- Red Herrings in the Budget Debate

Farm subsidies and welfare are red herrings in the budget/debt/deficit debate. There are only two areas that cuts will make a difference: military and health care. Period. Dot. Eliminate farm subsidies and welfare and one might feel "good," but the budget/debt/deficit will remain relatively unaffected.

Farm subsidies.

Texas:

• $25.9 billion in subsidies 1995-2011. ($1.5 billion/year)
• Texas ranking: 1 of 50 States
• 81 percent of farms in Texas did not collect subsidy payments - according to USDA.
• Ten percent collected 78 percent of all subsidies.
• Amounting to $16.7 billion over 17 years.
• Top 10%: $41,496 average per year between 1995 and 2011.
• Bottom 80%: $657 average per year between 1995 and 2011.

Iowa:

• $23.6 billion in subsidies 1995-2011. ($1.4 billion/year)
• Iowa ranking: 2 of 50 States
• 19 percent of farms in Iowa did not collect subsidy payments - according to USDA.
• Ten percent collected 58 percent of all subsidies.
• Amounting to $11.8 billion over 17 years.
• Top 10%: $33,626 average per year between 1995 and 2011.
• Bottom 80%: $1,553 average per year between 1995 and 2011.

Illinois:

• $19.7 billion in subsidies 1995-2011. ($1.15 billion/year)
• Illinois ranking: 3 of 50 States
• 26 percent of farms in Illinois did not collect subsidy payments - according to USDA.
• Ten percent collected 68 percent of all subsidies.
• Amounting to $11.2 billion over 17 years.
• Top 10%: $28,747 average per year between 1995 and 2011.
• Bottom 80%: $831 average per year between 1995 and 2011. 

Minnesota:

• $16.2 billion in subsidies 1995-2011. ($0.95 billion/year)
• Minnesota ranking: 4 of 50 States
• 30 percent of farms in Minnesota did not collect subsidy payments - according to USDA.
• Ten percent collected 62 percent of all subsidies.
• Amounting to $7.95 billion over 17 years.
• Top 10%: $35,237 average per year between 1995 and 2011.
• Bottom 80%: $1,319 average per year between 1995 and 2011.

Nebraska:

• $15.6 billion in subsidies 1995-2011. ($0.92 billion/year)
• Nebraska ranking: 5 of 50 States
• 27 percent of farms in Nebraska did not collect subsidy payments - according to USDA.
• Ten percent collected 62 percent of all subsidies.
• Amounting to $7.97 billion over 17 years.
• Top 10%: $36,494 average per year between 1995 and 2011.
• Bottom 80%: $1,340 average per year between 1995 and 2011.

Kansas:

• $15.4 billion in subsidies 1995-2011. ($0.91 billion/year)
• Kansas ranking: 6 of 50 States
• 32 percent of farms in Kansas did not collect subsidy payments - according to USDA.
• Ten percent collected 70 percent of all subsidies.
• Amounting to $8.67 billion over 17 years.
• Top 10%: $27,615 average per year between 1995 and 2011.
• Bottom 80%: $721 average per year between 1995 and 2011.

 North Dakota:

• $14.0 billion in subsidies 1995-2011. ($0.82 billion/year)
• North Dakota ranking: 7 of 50 States
• 16 percent of farms in North Dakota did not collect subsidy payments - according to USDA.
• Ten percent collected 61 percent of all subsidies.
• Amounting to $6.17 billion over 17 years.
• Top 10%: $45,980 average per year between 1995 and 2011.
• Bottom 80%: $1,712 average per year between 1995 and 2011.

California:

• $9.99 billion in subsidies 1995-2011. ($0.58 billion/year)
• California ranking: 10 of 50 States
• 91 percent of farms in California did not collect subsidy payments - according to USDA.
• Ten percent collected 73 percent of all subsidies.
• Amounting to $5.93 billion over 17 years.
• Top 10%: $66,781 average per year between 1995 and 2011.
• Bottom 80%: $1,436 average per year between 1995 and 2011.

Indiana:

• $9.78 billion in subsidies 1995-2011. ($0.57 billion/year)
• Indiana ranking: 11 of 50 States
• 41 percent of farms in Indiana did not collect subsidy payments - according to USDA.
• Ten percent collected 74 percent of all subsidies.
• Amounting to $6.01 billion over 17 years.
• Top 10%: $27,525 average per year between 1995 and 2011.
• Bottom 80%: $556 average per year between 1995 and 2011.

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Welfare payments, 2007

As the recession grinds on and people run out of unemployment benefits, the last safety net is the government's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Though benefits vary by state, TANF provides a maximum of 60 months of coverage throughout a recipient's lifetime.

The list appears to be ranked on basis of percent of population on assistance, not total dollar amount.

1. California, $3.3 billion
2. Maine, $62 million
3. Tennessee, $91 million
4. Massachusetts, $295 million
5. Vermont, $31 million
6. DC, $19 million
7. New York, $1.5 billion
8. Minnesota, $106 million
9. Washington state: $266 million
10. New Mexico: $59 million
11. Indiana: $102 million